Broken Bow Lake

Broken Bow Lake is a reservoir in McCurtain County in southeastern Oklahoma that covers roughly 56.7 square kilometers and is surrounded by forested hills. The water is clear enough to see the bottom in many coves, and the jagged shoreline forms dozens of small inlets and peninsulas.

The Mountain Fork River was dammed in the late 1960s to control flooding and provide drinking water, requiring the relocation of the village of Hochatown. The reservoir filled by 1970 and opened shortly after for recreation and fishing.

Anglers gather here year-round and try their luck with pike and catfish living in the deep coves. Many families return each summer and rent the same spots along the shore, where they grill and swim.

Boat rentals and camping areas are spread along the northern and eastern shores, where most facilities and ramps are located. Visitors should bring drinking water and sun protection, as shaded areas outside the forested coves are limited.

Hiking trails like the David Boren Trail wind through pine forests to raised viewpoints that overlook hundreds of coves and islands. Some sections follow rocky ridges that rise above the water and offer views into remote arms that boats rarely reach.